My Workplace

Fuhh, I think so far this is the longest period of time I've not updated my blog! Pardon me. Can't seem to think of any topics to post about.

Now, many of you knows where I'm working at but don't really know what type of food my work place serve. At Sage we don't consider our restaurant as fine dine but close to it though. Modern elegance with superior quality (yes we do have abalones, truffles)

Not say you, even my parents haven't been there before. Very normal reactions I get when people ask me the price of the food is: O_O". Typical. If I had not worked here I would have the same too. "Why is the portion of pasta so small! Can't even fill quarter of my stomach!" But trust me, you'll be full.

I brought my parents to my work place for dinner in conjunction with my mum's birthday last month, placing a reservation for the chef's degustation menu by Chef Takashi Kimura. On one hand it's the celebration, on the other hand it's to introduce my work place to both my parents. I guess it's something new for them, with all the ingredients and types of food.

The chef's degustation is a 7 course menu. 9 if you consider the amuse bouche and coffee/tea. It differs almost daily, depending on the ingredients available in season or whatever's freshest. If you or your gf/bf/parents are a food fan of japanese/french cuisine, why not give it a try. You'll be amazed. Well, we also have very normal food like oxtail pasta, roasted cod, smoked salmon, confit of duck leg etc. That will be a 3-course (appetizer, main course and dessert of your choice) or 4-course (with an additional chef's special of the day), priced at RM150 and RM170 per set respectively.

So here's an insight of how the chef's degustation menu is.

Freshly homemade bread with homemade basil dip

Our mocktail (not in the menu): Virgin Mojito :p

Amuse bouche: Smoked Salmon Tartare with Avocado & Ponzu Jelly

1st course: Tataki of Lightly Cured Saba with Aubergine and Avruga Caviar

2nd course: Fedelini Pasta with Mizudako (Japanese Octopus) and Abalone

Far view of the kitchen: Chef Counter in front, inside is the main kitchen

3rd course (my fave): Slow Cooked Venison with Foie Gras & Red Wine Sauce

Pan Fried Maine Lobster with Tai Fillet and Americaine Sauce

Mirror mirror hanging on the ceiling, the chefs at work

5th course (main course): Char Grilled Wagyu with Veal Sweet Bread and Yuzukoshou (that small lump of mustard-like paste that's yuzukoshou, a citrus chili pickle paste)

6th course: Fig and Lime Granite

7th course: Feuillantine of Mascarpone Ice Cream wth Kahlua Jelly

This is the petite four served with the coffee/tea, cute lil macaroon :)

No fancy styling of food but it's filled with flavors. Try it and you'll know.

www.sagekl.com

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[Phood] Hokkien Mee @ Jalan 222 PJ

I would say that this is quite a famous place for Hokkien Mee in PJ. My parents and I often dine here. Restoran Ahwa is actually a corner shop consisting different hawker stalls such as chicken rice, grilled fish, satay, lor bak, popiah, mixed rice, soup noodles etc. But what's famous in this shop is the hokkien mee for sure. Even the shop is named with the hokkien mee in it.

Restoran Ahwa is located at Jalan 222. Well, I think it's Jalan 222, as many people I know calls it the Jalan 222 Hokkien Mee instead of saying the name of the shop.

KL Hokkien Mee

Loh Mee (this is nice too)

I've been here at least 5 times but this is my first time eating the vermicelli version. This was fantastic. The vermicelli soaked up all the sauce and aroma, very tasty indeed.

We ordered 1 small portion of 'cantonese style yee mee', it was so not nice. But others were fine.

Fried lala from the grilled fish stall. (My friend claims it's one in a million, can't find this style anywhere else)


Chicken Satay (RM7.50 for 15 pieces)


Tauhu Bakar (I like it, crispy with a lot of cucumber and bean sprout and peanut sauce inside) (RM1.50 per piece)

I can't remember how much the noodles cost. But, ahh, the satisfaction you get when your tummy is filled. Yum.

Restoran Ahwa Hokkien Mee
Jalan 222, PJ.

Directions: On the Federal Highway heading towards Klang, after you passed PJ Hilton on your left, keep left and exit at Jalan 222/Jalan Templer. Turn right at the traffic light under the flyover. Go straight and turn right at the second traffic light. You will be able to see a Shell petrol station on your right, and also the restaurant already.

[Phood] Kin San Kichi @ Desa Sri Hartamas

Ever since my uncle brought my parents and grandparents here, they've been praising the phood non stop! I was told a funny story where my uncle went in another restaurant and asked the owner 'owh, you renovated your shop?' only to know that he was in the wrong one! Lol!


Kin San Kichi, located in Desa Sri Hartamas, an area where you can find heaps of different type of cuisine from Japanese to Korean to Chinese to Irish. One would expect to pay a higher sum to dine in this area, but to my surprise this restaurant is not that expensive after all!

The bar

The Kitchen

There were only four of us, so we can't order much. Which means, I can't try much! But it's okay, I'll be back again!

Appetiser - Edamame (RM6)

Fresh Salmon Sashimi *drools* 10 pieces, each a centimetre thick! All round goodness! Yummy! (RM35)

Bro ordered the sukiyaki set. Kinda too salty for my liking. (RM21)

I ordered the Nabeyaki Udon (RM15) Light and nice :)

Parents shared a Miso Chashu Ramen (RM15) I think the miso soup was too salty. Ramen still lack of that 'bounciness'.

Then we shared a barbeque family set for 2. Minimum order of 2 pax (RM33 per pax) which includes:

Mixed Seafood - 2 prawns, 2 scallops, cuttlefish and butter yaki salmon (this is damn good)

The original meat given was ox tongue but we opted for pork (hmm, kinda tough)

Sliced beef (very tender and juicy! Yumm!)

Served with 2 miso soup and 2 white rice and fruits

Kin San Kichi Japanese Restaurant (Non Halal)
16, Jalan 27/70A,
Desa Sri Hartamas,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
(Facing the open air carpark)
Tel: 03-23003889

Opening Hours: Lunch - 12.00pm - 2.30pm; Dinner - 6.00pm - 10.15pm

[Phood] Tenji Japanese Buffet, Solaris Mont Kiara

I'm sure many of you received an email regarding this newly opened Japanese buffet restaurant in Mont Kiara, which was actually a copy of a blog posting by flogger Precious Pea. A wrongful act, but I guess through that wrong act, it actually brought many customers to this particular outlet in Soho KL, Solaris Mont Kiara.


Tenji, situated directly above Cold Storage. At first glance it looks just like any typical Japanese restaurant. Previously they were having a lunch promotion offer whereby you pay RM29.90++ for the first 2 hours, additional RM10++ for the next, and another RM10++ for another hour. When I called, they said they were fully booked till the end of the promotion period. Then they extended their promotion, only modified by paying a full RM49.90+ no matter how long you eat. It was quite difficult to get through their number, always ended up with a recorded voice message saying the operator is busy or the line is engaged. But, just keep dialing and try. I finally successed at 9pm at night, and was given a table for three on last Thursday (22 Jan).

When we reached, there was a medium-long queue outside, a long list of reservations, and everyone have to pay before they get in.



We were seated outside at a "Zen garden" which I really love how they design it. If I'm not mistaken Tenji can seat up to 300 over guests at one go. There are tables inside too, where all the food and beverages are.






Similar to Jogoya, each table is given clips for guests to drop at the food counters to order what you like. They have various counters such as Chinese, Teppanyaki, Western, Paper Cup Soup etc.

Need a private section?

A hit item at the counter. Sweet cold thirst quenching coconut! But I don't know if they throw it away after that or not, because there's still flesh inside! So wasted. I had 6 of this.

I don't know where they get such HUGEEEEE oysters! As HUGE as my palm. But i'm not an oyster fan, only had one. It wasn't cold enough, so kinda jelak after eating one.

The inner interior

Soooooooooooooo-shhheeeeeeeeeeeee

Hey! They even have a popcorn maker!

What really interest me is the flower teas! A hot pick too! Such a good idea to offer.




Wanna try all the teas but can't finish 8 pots?

You must be thinking here only got 7 types. One more is in the pot above. Rose tea. Mwahahaha! I feel so malu walking back to the table with the plate. But good idea right?? The blueberry and the peach one were pretty good. Others were kinda sour. Amaranth tasted weird. Calendula very the erm... weird too. Rose and lavender, normal la.

Prawn tempura! Gone within a second. Not crispy enough.

The portion is very small only. 5 cubes of beef, or 1 small piece of grilled teppan salmon. And the waiting is long. So make sure you place the clips early!

Cordyceps Soup (This is really nice! Very 'bou')

Steamed fish of the day - pomphret (This took half an hour to come)

Kai Lan. (A bit old though)

From the western corner. The mussel is not bad. And the potato.

My so called Paper Cup soup. You choose your ingredients and your soup base (miso/spicy). They'll heat it up at the counter, then bring to your table, and heat up on this. Kononnya heat up la, but no difference, not hot one :p)

The dessert corner is fantastic. I see so many cheesecakes! And not forgetting Haagen Daz ice cream!!! I was too full so I only had one scoop of green tea ice cream and a piece of cake. The Marble Cheesecake is good. These bunch of girls in front of me ordered one piece of each O_O"



They also have varieties of cookies available.






Manage to catch the chef marinating the lamb for dinner (Barbequed lamb only available for dinner)

The lamb carving counter

Overall, it was okay, at least I had a better impression on them rather than Jogoya. Some personal points from me:

i. The pace of refilling dishes is rather slow. Strategy or not I don't know. Especially the serve-upon-order food items. But I don't blame them, cuz too many variety, and you have to prepare one item at one time.

ii. Funny thing is, mum heard it was fully book, but at our area, there were still quite some number of tables unoccupied.

iii. Human's kiasuness, you tend to try to taste more dishes and end up filling up faster. Don't think I ate worth the price :(

iv. They must improve their staffs' menu knowledge. One table tried to order wine, not sure if they sell wine or not, but the staff didn't understand.

v. Taste wise, don't expect super delicious food. The taste is okay. Well, at least the sashimis are fresh.

PS: CNY Promotion is from 16 Jan 2009 - 15 Feb 2009. RM49.90+ for lunch.
Dinner Promo - RM88+ （For every 2 diners, a RM50 discount voucher is given for immediate use.）

Tenji Japanese Buffet Restaurant
Operated by Palm Crest Restaurant Sdn. Bhd (765661-P)
Lot L-01-01, SohoKL, Solaris Mont' Kiara
2 Jalan Solaris, 5o480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 1700801818
URL: www.tenji.com.my/blog.tenji.com.my

Operation Hours:
Weekdays:
Lunch 11.30 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. RM77++
Dinner 5.30 p.m. - 9.30 p.m. RM88++
Supper 10.00 p.m. - 2.30 a.m. RM88++

Weekend & Public Holiday:
Lunch 11.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. RM77++
Dinner 5.30 p.m. - 9.30 p.m. RM88++
Supper 10.00 p.m. - 2.30 a.m. RM88++